About Our Job
With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.
What We Offer
The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $21.47 - $32.21. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:
A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
457B Retirement Plan
140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
Location
In this position you can expect to work on site at the Office of the Medical Examiner, located at 500 Quivas St. This position is expected to be on-location for all shifts. Position is varying shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Start times can vary. The Office of the Medical Examiner is a 24/7/365 organization.
What You’ll Do
Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to promote healthy people, healthy pets, and a sustainable environment. DDPHE oversees a number of services related to public health and the environment and is comprised of six divisions: Division of Shared Services and Business Operations; Community & Behavioral Health; Public Health Investigations; Denver Animal Protection; the Office of Medical Examiner; and Environmental Quality. For more information on DDPHE’s programs and services, visit the DDPHE website at: Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive.
The Office of the Medical Examiner, within DDPHE, has an opening for a Forensic Assistant. This position will consist of decedent transportation and logistics while also aiding autopsy support staff with daily morgue operations.
Specifically, as the Forensic Assistant you will:
Operates a city vehicle, while responding to scene locations whose purpose is to recover and transport decedents, specimens, and or records from hospitals, nursing home, or other death scenes to the medical examiner's office or other facilities within the Denver metropolitan area in field locations that may be difficult environments.
Maintains vehicles for daily operations including the overall cleanliness of the vehicle while monitoring supplies and equipment. Complete quarterly vehicle inspection requirements.
Receives and processes decedents into the office of the medical examiner; places decedents on autopsy tables; Prepares decedents for release; And releases decedents subsequent to postmortem examination. Collects and preserves physical and medical evidence. Assist in autopsy procedures.
Assist in the physical recovery, packaging, lifting, and moving of the cedents bodies including infants, children, and decedents that may be fragmented, burned and/or or in advanced stages of decomposition.
Provides Courier service for official business including hospital specimens, histology, supplies.
Collects fingerprints for identification purposes using a variety of techniques including ink prints, digital capture, casting, and chemical processing and in accordance with departments standard operating procedures.
Performs limited scope diagnostic imaging for identification, documentation of trauma, and evidence location and collection. Selects the length and intensity of radiation exposure, and elevates images for density, contrast, definitions, magnification, and distortion.
Performs preferences photography with special focus on trauma, identifying markers, and other regions of evidential or forensic value. Collects, inventories, photographs, documents, protects, and prove reserves the integrity of evidence and personal effects via chain of custody.
Assist with decedent releases to authorized parties. Assist the coroner investigators with physical recovery and lifting of decedents while on scene investigations.
Performs a variety of case related data entry via case management system.
Along with all department staff, this position will actively participate on an emergency preparedness and response team to support DDPHE’s responsibilities outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. This may require being ‘on-call’ from time to time to help respond to emergencies. Additional training commensurate with assigned duties will be provided.
Other duties as assigned.
This classification performs technical, physically demanding forensic work supporting the Office of Medical Examiner which may be performed outside of normal business hours in a variety of field settings within the Denver metropolitan area. This is both physically and emotionally demanding work that requires employees to occasionally assist in raising or lowering objects up to 150 pounds.
About You
What You’ll Bring
We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.
Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:
Experience working within a medical examiner’s office, funeral home, lab, or related.
Experience with and knowledge of decedent handling, transportation, and logistics.
Ability to provide dignity and respect while caring for deceased persons in stressful situations and environments.
Knowledge of safety hazards and precautions and demonstrates a safe working environment.
Knowledge of cleaning agents and chemicals sufficient to be able to maintain the cleanliness of the work area.
Excellent customer service skills, along with initiative, empathy, attention to detail, flexibility, and patience.
Position attitude and desire to be a team player.
Experience working in highly stressful situations and environments while also demonstrating professionalism and calmness.
Required Minimum Qualifications
Education Requirement: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate.
Experience Requirement: Two (2) years of experience as a funeral home assistant/transporter, autopsy assistant, surgical assistant, radiology technician or laboratory assistant that included developing a knowledge of human anatomy, skill in identifying or using surgical instruments and knowledge of aseptic techniques.
Education and Experience Equivalency: A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum education and experience requirements.
License/Certification Requirement: This job requires driving. Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
It is a condition of employment that the Denver Police Forensics & Evidence Division form for consent for collection of a DNA sample be completed at the time of hire.
Application Deadline
This position is expected to stay open until Sunday, March 24, 2024. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than 11:59 p.m. on that date to ensure consideration.
To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):
About Everything Else
Job Profile
CE3426 Forensic Assistant
To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.
Position Type
Unlimited
Position Salary Range
$21.47 - $32.21
Starting Pay
Based on education and experience.
Agency
Dept of Public Health & Environment
Assessment Requirement
Performance Test
The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.
Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.
For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.
